Beaverhead County, the City of Dillon, and the Town of Lima have been working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) to update and produce new floodplain maps for the Beaverhead River, Blacktail Deer Creek, Selway Slough and Junction Creek areas, and the Big Hole River.

Many of the existing floodplain maps are based on data from the late 1970s.  Updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps will provide more accurate, current, and detailed data and mapping of flood risk areas. When finalized, the new maps could have effects on some property owners in mapped floodplains (see Floodplain FAQs page for more information).

Public Open House Meeting | January 21, 2021 | 5:30pm – 7:00pm | virtual meeting 

Beaverhead County, Dillon and Lima are hosting a virtual public open house for landowners.  

Zoom link https://ogilvy.zoom.us/j/91731830810  Passcode: 7477  

Limited in-person seats are available to view and participate in the virtual meeting at the Lewis & Clark Room in Dillon (call 406-683-3768 to reserve a spot) and at the Lima Town Hall (call 406-276-3521).

View Preliminary Floodplain Maps

*viewer may take a few minutes to load*

 View individual preliminary maps and reports here: Maps & Technical Reports

Get more information on floodplain designations referenced on the maps:

100-Year Floodplain
Floodway (within the 100-Year Floodplain)
500-Year Floodplain

Newly Mapped into a 100-Year Floodplain on the preliminary maps?  See Low Cost Insurance Options

FEMA will open an official comment and appeal period on the maps (estimated mid 2021). For more information, see: comment and appeal process. 

Big Hole River Floodplain Maps

A flood study and floodplain maps for the Big Hole River were produced in 2015. The Big Hole River floodplain maps and study information have been incorporated into the preliminary FEMA floodplain maps and will go through an official 90 day comment and appeal period along with the rest of Beaverhead County's floodplain maps (estimated mid 2021).  An informational meeting for the Preliminary Big Hole River maps will be held on February 17, 2021 as part of the Big Hole Watershed Committee's monthly meeting.    

Public Meetings

January 21, 2020 | 5:30-7:00pm | Public Open House | virtual meeting

February 17, 2021 | 6:00 pm | Big Hole Watershed Committee Meeting | virtual meeting
check back for updated meeting information

 In 2019, Beaverhead County, Dillon, and Lima hosted two Public Open Houses to help property owners review the initial draft maps.  The meetings were held:  May 9, 2019 (in Dillon) and May 13, 2019 (in Lima).  View materials from the 2019 meetings:  Dillon Presentation   Lima Presentation   News Coverage   100-Year Floodplain   Floodway   500-Year Floodplain   Low Cost Insurance Options

Come back for more information

We will update this website with new, relevant information as this project progresses.